We showed how broad and deep support for this legislation is, not just in the traditional civil rights community like the American Civil Liberties Union, the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the Human Rights Campaign and People for the American Way, but also in the faith community including the RAC, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the National Council of Jewish Women, the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Universalist Association and others. You can see the text of the RAC's letter below.

Do you want to take action on ENDA? You can use the RAC's new toolkit to write a letter or email, make a phone call or schedule a lobby visit to tell your members of Congress that we must end discrimination, and we must end it now. Take action!

United States Congress
Washington, DC 20510-6200

Dear Member of Congress,

On behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, which includes over 1800 Reform rabbis, I write to express our strong support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017/S. 1584).

ENDA would prevent most employers from firing, refusing to hire, or denying a promotion to any worker on the basis of real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. In doing so, this legislation would be a major step forward in the advancement of civil rights protections for all Americans, and would bring federal law closer in line with highly-successful policies that already exist in a number of states and corporate environments.

Jewish tradition teaches, "And God created humans in God's own image, in the image of God, God created them; male and female God created them." (Genesis 1:27) We oppose discrimination against all individuals, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender men and women, for the stamp of the divine is imprinted on the souls of each and every one of us. As Jews, we have been among the quintessential victims of group hatred, persecution, and discrimination in western civilization. We feel a keen empathy for those who can still be victimized, deprived of opportunities, jobs, or advancement because of their identity.

We also believe this legislation to be a wise and measured civil rights bill that addresses the scourge of employment discrimination and upholds the values on which our nation was founded, equality and justice chief among them. It is clear that within our nation's diversity of faith traditions, there are, however, differing views about homosexuality. Every faith is entitled to its own interpretation of its holy texts, and every individual is entitled to believe in a way of his or her own choosing. At the same time, the government is and should be free to enact legislation that protects values that differ from some of these beliefs. When that occurs, however, the government also should strive to protect the freedom of religious communities with differing beliefs to practice their faith as they see fit.

That is why Section 6 of ENDA, the exemption for religious organizations, is an essential part of this legislation. A bill that did not permit houses of worship, seminaries, religious schools and other religious organizations to be guided by the tenets and teachings that embody the essence of their faith would break with our country's long-standing tradition of religious freedom and provoke widespread opposition. This legislation is not an endorsement of any particular religious viewpoint and it does not interfere with religious beliefs about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. ENDA simply ensures that workers are judged and rewarded based on their qualifications and performance, rather than on irrelevant and prejudicial factors. At the same time, it protects the right of religious communities to make their own employment decisions in this sensitive area.

As such, I urge you to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and to oppose any floor amendments or motions that would undermine its protections or its fully inclusive nature.

Sincerely,

Mark Pelavin
Associate Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism